Motor conveyor trackway



May 12, 1931. E, HANAK MOTOR CONVEYER TRACKWAY Filed Aug. 8, 1929 IiNVENTOR Edward Haw/0d ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1931 UNITED STATESEDWARD MAX, HOUSTON, TEXAS MOTOR CONVEYOR TRAOKWAY Application filedAugust 8, 1929. Serial No. 884,360.

The invention relates generally to conveyor systems, and particularlyto-those of the electrically operated type wherein are providedtrackways, conductor rails, and electric motor operated trolleys whichride along the rails and to the motors of which current is supplied fromthe conductor rails.

The invention has for an object the provision of certain new and usefulimprovements in the trackway and conductor rail structures and methodsof insulating the conductor rails which will provide for greaterstrength and economy in use and manufacture, greater easeand economy inhandling and mounting, and greater safety in use by practicallyeliminating arcing and sparks.

More particularly, the present invention seeks to provide certainimprovements over the trolley rail disclosed in my application filedAugust 25, 1927, Serial No. 215,485.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outhereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my inventionconsists in the novel features of construction and in the combination,connection and arrangement of'parts, hereinafter more fully describedand then pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings k Figure 1 is a cross section of a trackway embodying mypresent invention, the figure being a section taken on the line 1--1 ofeach of Figures 2 and 3 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 2- is a side elevation looking from i left to right in Figure 1.v

Figure3 is a side elevation looking from ri' ht to left in Figure 1.

igure 4 is a-detail side elevation at an 40 intermediate position in thelength of the,

trackway.

In the drawings in which 'like numerals of reference indicate like partsin all of the figures, 1 represents the web of the rail which may bemade in suitable lengths held end to end as indicatedat 18 in Figures 2and 3. To the web 1 is secured upper angle irons 2, preferably byrivetin as at 3, while to the lower ed e of the web lower angle irons 4are secured y rivets 5 or in any other suitable Way, the angle irons 2and 4 together with the web 1 constitute an I-beam. Preferably inassembling the I-beam the angle irons 2 at one side lap the gloints ofthe rails .8 so as to increase the ri 'ty of the I-beam.

Secured to t e upper faces and flush with the outer edges of the lowerangle irons 4 are steel strips or laminations 6 on which the trolleywheels run. These strips are secured by welding or in an other suitableway and are preferably of ardened steel so as to reduce wear to theminimum.

.7 designates a series of insulators preferably of moisture-proofedwood, grooved on their under faces as at 10 for the reception 5 of theheads of the conductor rails 8, the latter bein preferably copper platedmetallic bars of F shape in cross section. These bars are made insuitable lengths and where their ends are brought together and theelectrical continuity is to be maintained, they are overlaid by a strip9 of copper or other suitable conductor bar, one of the insulators 7bridging'the joint as shown in Figure 2.

Where, however, the conductor bars 8 are to be insulated from oneanother they are spaced apart as indicated in Figure 3, the space beingfilled by a suitable insulator 16, preferably of vulcanized fibre orother hard non-conducting substance, the insulator so conformin in crosssection to that of the conductor ars8. The bars 8 and insulator 16 aremechanically held together by tie lates 17 of insulating material whichare olted as at 19 to the rails 8 on each side of the insulators 16.

The angle irons 2 and the insulators 7 are provided with aligningapertures 15 in which the bushing 11 of insulating material (preferablymo sture-proofed wood) is located.

The insulators 11 have heads 12 to lie on the upper angle irons and theyare apertured for the passage of the cap screws 13 that are tapped intothe conductor rails 8 and serve to secure the rails 8, insulators 7 and12 to the I-beam in their proper correlative positions.

In order that moisture may not work down into the apertures 15, suitableWashers 14; are provided to effect a tight seal between theheads 12 andthe angle irons 2. These washers 14 are preferably composed of tar paperor other suitable substance possessing the required characteristics.

The conductor bars 8 are preferably copper plated to increase theirconductivity. The continuous rails where their ends approach may beseparated by insulation 16, see Figure 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple andinexpensive trackway for the purposes hereinbefore alluded to which canbe constructed at a low cost and in which maintenance costs have beenreduced to the minimum.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is thought the construction, operation andadvantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art towhich it relates.

While I have disclosed the I-beam as composed of sections rivetedtogether it is obvious that an ordinary or regular one-piece I- beam maybe employed in lieu of the built-up ty e.

Vhat I claim is:

1. In conveyor trackways, an I-beam including lower and upper horizontalflanges constituting trolley-riding flanges and conductor rail mountingflanges respectively, conductor rails located beneath said upperhorizontal flanges, a series of insulationblocks located between saidhorizontal flanges and the tops of said conductor rails, said blocks andsaid upper flanges having aligning holes, insulating bushings in saidholes, cap screws held in said bushings and threaded into-said conductorrails for securing said conductor rails, said blocks, and said bushingstogether in place on said upper horizontal flanges.

2. In conveyor trackways, an I-beam including lower and upper horizontalflanges constituting trolley-riding flanges and conductor rail mountingflanges respectively, conductor rails located beneath said upperhorizontal' flanges, a series of insulationblocks. located between saidhorizontal flanges and the tops of said conductor rails, said blocks andsaid upper flanges having aligning holes, insulating bushings in saidholes, cap screws held in said bushings and threaded into said conductorrails for secur-.

ing said conductor rails, said blocks, and said bushings together inplace on said upper horizontal flanges, said conductor rails beingcomposed of lengths, certain ones of which having opposing ends spacedapart, insulating inserts located between said ends, and tie plates ofinsulation bolted to the conductor rails and overlaying said insulatinginserts.

3. In conveyor trackways, an I-beam including lower and upper horizontalflanges constituting trolley-riding flanges and conductor rail mountingflanges respectively, conductor rails located beneath said upperhorizontal flanges, a series of insulationblocks located between saidhorizontal flanges and the tops of said conductor rails, said blocks andsaid upper flanges having aligning holes, insulating bushings in saidholes, cap screws held in said bushings and threaded into said conductorrails for securing said conductor rails, said blocks, and said bushingstogether in place on said upper horizontalflanges, said conductor railsbeing composed of lengths, certain ones of which have their endsopposite one another and brought close together, one of said insulatorblocks-overlying the gap between said ends and a strip of conductor baroverlying the gap and secured in good electrical contact with theopposite rail ends.

4. In conveyor trackways, an I-beam, T- shaped conductor rails locatedbeneath the upper lateral flanges of the I-beam, insulating spacingblocks located between said upper lateral flanges and said conductorrails, said upper'lateral flanges and said blocks having aligningapertures, bushin s having flanged heads projected into said apertures,cap screws passing through said bushings and threaded into saidconductor bars, and sealing washers between said bushings and said313581 lateral flanges for the purpose speci- 5. In conveyor trackways,an I-beam including lower and upper horizontal flanges constitutingtrolley-riding flanges and conductor rail mounting flanges respectively,conductor rails located beneath said upper horizontal flanges, a seriesof insulationblocks located between said horizontal flanges and the topsofsaid conductor rails, said blocks and said upper flanges havingaligning holes, insulating bushings in said holes, means passing throughsaid bushings and connecting to said conductor rails for securing saidconductor rails, said blocks, and said bushings together in place onsaid upper horizontal flanges.

6. In conveyor trackways, an I-beam including lower and upper horizontalflanges constituting trolley-riding flanges and conductor rail mountingflanges respectively, conductor rails located beneath said upperhorizontal flanges, a series of insulationblocks located between saidhorizontal flanges and the tops of said conductor rails, said bushingstogether in place on said upper' horizontal flanges, said conductorrails bein composed of lengths, certain ones of whic having opposed endsspaced apart, insulating inserts located between said ends, and tieplates of insulation bolted to the conductor

